The other day I found on my Facebook page a brief supportive note from a woman whose name, Elaine Liner, I failed to place. Later that day it popped into my head: she was the woman who, in 1991, had published one of my short stories. I have no idea what the state is today [Read More...]

Young Benny Horton sat in the cavernous living room of a luxurious high-rise apartment on a round, backless white couch with a giant white button in its middle. It was 1959. Men wore hats. Women had big hair. People wore sunglasses, and smiled a lot. In the room with Benny was Benny’s mom, Mom. [Read More...]

In response to yesterday’s Father’s Day is Coming; My Father’s Night is Here, I’ve been getting some of the kindest emails and comments ever. So I definitely appreciate that. I don’t know if this is the sort of thing you guys would be interested in, but about three years ago on this blog I published [Read More...]

First of all, let me just say that if you submitted a story to our contest, you are a winner. Yes, your story not winning means that technically you’re a loser. But just the fact that you entered at all means that you’re someone who is entirely confident they can count to ten. Not everyone [Read More...]

Midnight last night this morning six hours ago marked the deadline for entries in the First Annual John Shore 10-Word Short Story Contest. Three hundred fifty stories. One prize. Two books. One the latest novel from contest co-judge and bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard. The other written by me. Has this nail-biting, finger-dinting contest allowed anyone [Read More...]

When first I beheld the veritable flood of entries pouring in for my First Annual John Shore 10-Word Short Story Contest,I couldn’t help but reflect upon how next year I’m going to allow only five stories per writer. Nathan. [Read more...]

[Update: Bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard is now helping to judge this contest.] Recently I spotted this for-sale ad on Craigslist: “Nike Triax c3 heart rate monitor and watch, used one time only.” Which of course brought to mind Hemingway’s famous six-word story, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Thinking I can’t be the only person [Read More...]